Web feeding and registering mechanism



y 1966 F. HOLLENTON ETAL 3,262,349

WEB FEEDING AND REGISTERING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 6, 1964 INVENTORS NK HOLLENTON ER F. REISS 4 AT! RNEY y 1966 F. HOLLENTON ETAL 3,262,349

WEB FEEDING AND REGISTERING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 6, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.4

: i L 124 u f/za (BRA/(E) (CLUTCH) INVENTORS FRANK HOLLENTON BYPETER F. REISS ATTORNEY July 26, 1966 F. HOLLENTON ETAL 3,262,349

WEB FEEDING AND REGISTERING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 6, i964 INVENTORS K HOLLENTON R F. REISS t 'ATTOzNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,262,349 Patented July '26, 1966 3,262,349 WEB FEEDING AND REGISTERING MECHANISM Frank Hollenton, Mountainside, N.J., and Peter F. Reiss, Whitestone, N.Y., assignors to American Machine 8; Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey 'Filed Feb. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 342,879 10 Claims. (Cl. 83-209) This invention relates to web feeding, and more particularly to improvements in mechanism for feeding and registering continuous webs such as Webs of cigar bands which occur in a repetitious printed and cut shape arrangement.

In the operation of high speed cigar banding and/or wrapping machines the problem is encountered of insuring that bands Will be cut accurately from a continuous web consisting of a series of connected identical bands shaped to any desired contour such that the machine will be operated with a minimum of stoppage due to improper feeding and registration of bands.

At the present time, most cigar manufacturers prefer to band cigars with paper bands that are shaped to a desired contour and have printing or other advertising indicia thereon. It has been found that in the feeding and registering of this type of band, which usually has varying edge contours, and especially with high speed machines, such as that disclosed in Craig et al US. Patent 3,090,176, there may be difiiculty in properly registering a band moving at high speed through a beam of a photoelectric cell registering device such that the registration may not be proper and that a band length may be cut which will be either longer or shorter than the actual band itself. When this occurs it can happen that a large number of improperly registered bands may be fed and out which will cause considerable loss to the manufacturer, not only in time but in material, and in cigars that must be removed from the machine and rewrapped. In such cases the machine must be stopped and the operator is required to resynchronize the pick-up spot on the band or a predetermined contoured portion on the band before the machine can again be set into operation to produce properly banded and/ or wrapped cigars.

In accordance with the present invention, however, these disadvantages are overcome because of the fact that means are provided for so cont-rolling the movement of the band web that preselected portions of the band are scanned physically by a novel contour sensing means such that bands can be correctly positioned for cutting by the contour sensing means alone, or in the case a contour sensing means is used with a photoelectric cell control sensing and registering mechanism, the band can be so disposed and sensed by mechanical sensing means that a photo cell can only operate over a limited portion of each band and thereby the registration of each band is more effectively controlled. Thus a minimum of waste and down time occurs which would necessitate rewrapping cigars, removing cigars and/or web jams from the machine and repositioning the band web for further feed. This mechanism, therefore, assures proper synchronization of the operation of the band feeding mechanism at all times and there can be no desynchronization resulting from improper registration and cutting of bands. Hence, a mechanism embodying the invention is automatically synchronized at all times.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel feed ing and registering mechanism having a web contour sensing device operative to effect the proper registration of a portion of the web.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel contour web sensing mechanism wherein means are adapted to engage the edges of an endless traveling band and, preferably a band made up of a series of integrally connected cigar bands wherein, by means of contour sensing arms of the device, each band is sensed and positioned properly for cutting for delivering to a banding and/ or wrapping station.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel contour b and sensing mechanism associated with a photoelectric type of registering device, wherein the registering device is maintained in an inoperative condition until the position of a band to be registered has been sensed by the sensing device wherein the photoelectric cell mechanism is energized and made ready to register that particular portion of the endless band.

The invention is further characterized by the provision of a contour sensing device which is operative to sense the edges of a traveling endless band and in response to a portion of that band reaching a given position to cause a photoelectric cell operated registering device to become operative and in condition to register another portion of the band and immediately prevent the further feeding of the band upon registration, whereupon the registered band portion can be cut and delivered to a wrapping and/ or banding station.

One of the main problems in the feeding and registering of cigar bands, and especially cigar bands which are formed in an endless web and are printed in many colors is the proper registration such that bands will not be either overfed or underfed or cut in the wrong position or application upon a cigar. In order to solve this problem the invention includes the provision of a novel mechanism for incapacitating the photoelectric cell registering device until a predetermined portion of the band is about to move into the range of operation of this device. Therefore, it is a further object of the invention to provide a novel sensing mechanism which includes means for engaging the contour of one or both sides of a band as it moves past a given sensing point and when a certain specific portion of the band is sensed by that device to condition the photo cell registering device for operation such that as a predetermined point upon a band moves into the operation of the photoelectric cell registering device, the feed of the band is incapacitated and a band which is registered is cut.

The invention is .further characterized by the provision of a novel web feeding and registering device wherein means are provided to sense the contours of an endless traveling web such as a Web made up of a series of cigar bands having predetermined shapes and printing thereon and wherein the contour sensing means is operative to condition the web registering device for operation only after a given portion of one of the bands is passed through the sensing device whereupon the feed mechanism is immediately stopped and the registered web is cut to separate a cigar band therefrom.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain combinations and constructions which will be fully described hereinafter, and then set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional side elevation illustrating a web feed and registering device embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a partial rear view of driving mechanism for the web feeding device;

FIGURE 3 is a partial sectional plan view showing the coaction between a web band and the registering and web feeding devices;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic wiring diagram of the control circuit for the Web feeding and registering device;

FIGURE 5 is a schematic side elevation of a modified form of web feeding and registering device embodying the invention;

FIGURE 6 is a front elevation of the contour sensing device shown in FIGURE FIGURES 7 and 8 are views taken on line AA in FIGURE 6 with the sensing shoes shown in different positions;

FIGURE 9 is a schematic control circuit for the modified web feeding and registering device shown in FIG- URE 5;

. FIGURE 10 is a front elevation of a modified contour sensing device employing a pair of scanning rods used in conjunction with straight notched Webs;

FIGURES 11 and 12 are sectional plan views taken on line RR in FIGURE 10, with the sensing rods shown in different positions;

- FIGURE 13 is a schematic control circuit for the modified web feeding and registering device employing the rod sensor shown in FIGURE 10.

The invention is particularly adapted for use in a ma chine of the type shown in Craig et a1. Patent No. 3,090,- 176, granted May 21, 1963. Its use is not to be considered limited to that machine, however, since it may find ready application in other types of banding and/or wrapping machines.

Referring to the drawings, FIGURE 1 illustrates somewhat diagrammatically, a web feeding, registering and cutting apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention and used in the Craig et al. machine. In the apparatus shown, frame 2 supports shaft 6 rotatably mounting a roll of bands 8. Roll 8 consists of a series of connected identical bands B, printed as desired with identifying and/or decorative indicia, or other suitable indicia depending upon the type of article to be banded and/or wrapped. Bands B as shown herein are used in banding and/or wrapping cigars. They can be made from any suitable material such as paper and cellophane. They may be made with varying contours, such as shown in FIGURE 3, or they can be formed in an endless web provided with equidistant registering control means, such as spaced notches on one or both edges, as shown in FIGURES 11 and 12, for a purpose described more in detail hereinafter.

V In the same general manner, as shown in the Craig et al. patent, web W of bands B is fed from supply roll 8 by means of feed rollers 10 and 12 secured to shafts 14 and 16 suitably mounted in frame 2. Web W extends downwardly over a dasher roller 18 mounted on pivotally supported arm 20 which functions in the same manner as that of dancer roller 20 disclosed in the Craig et al. patent. From dasher roller 18 web W proceeds upward- 1y over idler roller 22 on shaft 23 mounted in frame 2, and thence through a web registering device, designated generally P, to a web feeding couple comprising feed rollers 24 and 26 mounted on shafts 28 and 30 respectively, suitably supported in frame 2 of the machine.

Sprocket 32 secured to shaft 16 is tracked by sprocket chain 34 running on sprocket 36 formed integrally with or attached to sprocket 38 loosely, rotatably mounted on drive shaft 40, which is driven continuously by a suitable electric motor (not shown). Sprocket 38 is tracked by sprocket chain 44 which in turn runs on sprocket 46 mounted on shaft 30. Meshing gears 48 and 50 of the same diameter are secured respectively to shafts 14 and 16. Meshing gears 52 and 54 on shafts 28 and 30, respectively, are of the same size and equal in diameter to gears 48 and 50, and by means of the drive mechanism just described, are operative to rotate feed rollers 10, 12 and 24, 26 to effect the proper feed of web W from supply roll 8 to cutter 56.

The rate of feed of web W by rollers 28 and 30 is such that they will feed to cutter 56 a length of web determined by the length of band to be cut. In order to vary the length of web fed, a variable pitch pulley 58 is mounted on drive shaft 40. This pulley is tracked by a belt 60, such as a conventional V-type belt running on variable pitch pulley 62 mounted on cam shaft 64. Thus the rate of feed of web W can be adjusted for differences in sizes of bands by adjusting variable pitch pulleys 58 and 62, as required. As with the mechanism disclosed in the Craig et al. patent a substantially constant tension is maintained on web W between feed rollers 10, 12 and 24, 26.

The feeding of web W by rollers 24 and 26 is controlled by a suitable type of web registering device such as a photo-diode mechanism of the type disclosed in the Craig et al. patent referred to hereinabove, or other type of suitable photoelectric registering mechanism. In FIG- URE1, the web registering mechanism P is shown somewhat diagrammatically. It includes a source of light 66 and a photo-diode 68 which form a part of the mechanism for scanning the web as it is moved through the beam of light emanating from the source 66 onto the photo diode 68. As in mechanisms of this type, when a given spot on the web passes through or breaks the beam of light or moves therebeyond so that a beam of light is reestablished, mechanism is set into operation to effect registration of the web. In the form of web registering mechanism P shown in FIGURE 1, and referring to FIG- URE 3, when a selected portion of a printed band B forming a part of web W is moved into the beam of light from source 66, the beam is broken and the operation of web feeding rollers 24 and 26 is interrupted whereupon the band length of web which has been fed now is registered and the advancing end of the web which corresponds to the registered band, is cut off. This is conveyed by conveying means 70, constructed and operated in the same manner as shown in Craig et al. patent, to a wrapping station where it is applied to a wrapper and then wrapped about a cigar to be Wrapped and banded. Since band conveying means 70 and the wrapping mechanism do not form a part of the present invention further disclosure and description thereof are omitted in the interest of brevity.

The interruption of the operation of feed rollers 24 and 26 and also feed rollers 10 and 16 is effected by means of a conventional type of combined electromagnetic clutch and brake device designated generally 72. This device forms no specific part 'of the invention and, therefore, it is not considered necessary to describe its construction in detail. Suflice it to say that normally the clutch section of device 72 is suitably coupled to shaft 40 so that feed rollers 10, 12 and 24, 26 are driven continuously once the machine has started. However, as soon as a band length of Web W is registered, the clutch section of device 72 is uncoupled from shaft 40, and the brake section is coupled to sprockets 36 and 38 in such manner that further rotation of feed rollers 24, 26 and 10, 12 is substantially immediately stopped, whereupon the selected section of web W or an individual band B is registered. Therefore, when cutter 56 cuts the also registered leading end of web W, the resulting band B is ready for transfer to the banding and wrapping mechanism (not shown).

Referring to FIGURE 3, it will be seen that, as illustrated herein, web W consists of an endless series of similar bands. In a high-speed machine of the type disclosed in the Craig et al. patent and one in which the present invention finds ready use, it will be appreciated that web W is moved by the feeding rollers 10, 12 and 24, 26 at a high rate of speed from supply roller 8 to cutter 56. Also, as is Well known, cigar bands are printed in several colors and with varying amounts of ornamentation. Thus, when band Wis fed at a high rate of speed, it becomes quite a problem to efliect the registration of each band increment of web W such that the leading end will always be cut from the web as a band of proper length and symmetry about its center transverse axis. As shown in FIGURE 3, each band B of web W is provided with a relatively simple printed indicia and decorative arrangement consisting of outer area 74,

inner area 76 and a central decorative area 78. The action of photoelectric type of web registering device, such for instance as a photo-diode system referred to herein, may be such that it becomes extremely difficult to cause the system to fire when a given area in one of the three elements referred to above (74, 76 or 78) passes through the beam of light. Accordingly, inaccuracy can result, which means there can be a considerable loss in labels which are fairly expensive, to say nothing of down time require-d to reposition or, in effect, resynchronize the web with respect to the several feeding means, and the need for unwrapping wrapped cigars to remove the improperly registered labels after which the cigars must again be rebanded and wrapped.

In accordance with the present invention means are provided for insuring that even though web W is moving at high speed through the beam of light emanating from source 66, a certain selected element, such a area 78 always will be the only or control area scanned by registering device P in the course of travel of web W en route to cutter 56. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 6 there is provided a sensing device S which acts in conjunction with registering mechanism P to insure its proper operation so that each band B cut from web W will be of the proper length and symmetry. Sensing device S shown in FIGURES l and 6 comprises a microswitch 80 of conventional design pivotally supported on bolt 82, secured to block 84, mounted on the inner face of housing 86 of registering mechanism P in such manner that the sensing fingers 88 and 90 of device S are located above the path of travel of web W. Sensing finger 88 is carried by a bracket 90 secured to microswitch 80. Finger 90 is pivotally mounted on pin 92 supported in a lug in the housing of microswitch 80 for movement relative to finger 88. As shown in FIGURE 6, the manner of supporting microswitch 80 insures that it is free to rock back and forth in the direction of arrows A at right angles to the path of travel of web W such that guide shoes 94 carried on the free end of the fingers 88 and 90 can engage opposite sides of web W and thereby, because of the relative movable action provided between fingers 88 and 90, adjust themselve in accordance with transverse variations in the dimensions of web W as it is fed by feed rollers 24 and 26 to cutter 56. Bolt 82 extends through a vertical slot 96 in housing 86 and provides for the adjustment of sensing device S in a vertical plane upwardly or downwardly to a predetermined operating position. This adjustment is effected by means of an adjusting screw 98 threadably mounted in housing 86 and extending through an elongated vertical slot 100 in block 84 (see FIGURE 1).

Cutter 56 is the same in construction and operation as the cutting mechanism shown in Craig et a1. patent used in cutting a cigar band. Since cutter 56 does not form a specific part of this invention only as much as is necessary to make clear its operation is described herein. The cutting operation of its blades 102 and 104 is effected by means of a link 106 having one end connected to a pin 108 coacting with the cutter blades 102 and 104 and its lower end pivotally connected to one arm of a bell crank lever 110 mounted on shaft 112 supported in frame 2. The other arm of bell crank lever 110 carries a cam follower 114 which tracks a cam 116 mounted on cam shaft 64. Spring 120 having one end attached to an arm of bell crank lever 110 and its other end secured to frame 2 maintains cam follower 114 continuously in contact with the surface of cam 116. Cutting action of blades 102 and 104 occurs when cam follower 114 runs on low portion 118 of cam 116.

The above described mechanism operates as follows: It is assumed that the machine is in operation and that drive shaft 40 is driving feed rollers 10, 12 and 24, 26, respectively, so that web W is being advanced from supply roll 8 to cutter 56. As the Web is fed, photodiode registering device P and sensing device S, acting in conjunction therewith, are operating to insure the proper registration of each band increment to web W as the latter is fed forwardly to cutter 56. As web W moves forwardly, shoes 94 of fingers 88 and 90 adapt themselves to the contour of web W. This is because the pivotal mount of sensor S allows fingers 88 and 90 to position shoes 94 so as to maintain proper contact with web W at all times as the latter moves forwardly to the cut-off position.

The operating circuit shown in FIGURE 4 comprises power supply lines L1 and L2. The circuit is so designed that photo cell registering device P remains inactive during the major portion of each Web feeding cycle, i.e., when the drive control relay switch 122 is in its deenergized state when its contacts 126 are closed, thereby permitting power supplied by lines L1 and L2 to operate magnetic clutch section 72B of combined magnetic clutch and brake mechanism 72, mentioned hereinabove. At this time shaft 40 is driving the feed rollers 10, 12 and 24, 26, as stated above.

As shown herein, referring to FIGURE 3, fingers 88 and 90 and their web edge engaging shoes 94 are mounted on microswitch or so designed that when the widest portion of a band increment of web W passes therebetween -microswitch 80 will be actuated. In this case the operating contacts of microswitch 80 will be closed. When this occurs, power Will be supplied to photo cell registering unit P which causes it to be conditioned or energized. Deferring to FIG. 3, it will be noted that the widest section of a band length or length which contains decorative area or indicia 78 is about to pass between fingers 88 and 90. The movement of the widest portion of a band length between shoes 94 causes the separation of fingers 88 and to effect the closing of microswitch contact. At this time the selected indicia area 78 on the band length of web W being sensed by sensor S is positioned with respect to the photo cell registering unit P and the latter is readied for firing. Therefore, when the designated spot or area 78 of the following connected band increment reaches the focal point 77 of the beam of light in photo cell registering device P, the latter being conditioned and readied, now fires as the opaque area 78 moves out of the range of the focal point of photo cell registering device P and the light beam penetrates the translucent area 79. This causes a deenergization of relay 122 with a concurrent opening of contacts 126 and closing of contacts 124. This effects the uncoupling of shaft 40 from its driving relationship with sprockets 36 and 38 and the drive of feeding rollers 10, 12 and 24, 26 ceases. Also, because contacts 124 are closed brake section 72B of combined electromagnetic clutch and brake 72 is operated to substantially immediately brake the uncoupled driven means of sprockets 36 and 38 to prevent any movement of the above mentoned feed rollers and the lead end of web W is thereby registered for cut-off by cutter 56 and delivery by conveyor means 70 to the banding and wrapping station of the machine.

In order to resume we'b feeding operations immediately after the cutting operation a cam on cam shaft 64 has a high spot 132 which engages switch 128 in the photocell registering mechanism circuit and causes it to open, thereby interrupting the power supply to registering mechanism P. Relay 122 then is deenergized causing the opening of contacts 124 and the closing of contacts 126. The drive between shaft 40 and web feed rollers 10, 12 and 24, 26 is again established and section 72B is deenergized.

With the reinstatement of the drive of shaft 40, web W again moves and the wide portion moves out of contact with shoes 94 of contour sensing devices S. As the narrow portion of web W moves between shoes 94 the contact of microswitch 80 opens and the high portion 132 of cam 130 loses contact with switch 128 which closes again. Photocell unit P now is completely deenergized and cannot function again until reconditioned in the manner described hereinabove when the next wide portion containing indicia area 78 of web W moves between shoes 94 of sensing fingers 88 and 90.

The mechanism just described is effective to handle webs having varying width dimensions such as shown in FIGURE 3, or webs having contours such as shown in FIGURES l1 and 12. The floating mount of microswitch 80 is important because it allows switch 88 to swing, as indicated by arrow G in FIGURE 6, such that fingers 88 and 90 adapt themselves to the contour of web W and thereby maintain resilient contact with the edges of a web fed therebetween at all times even though web W may tend to move laterally or bend or twist when being fed. Although shoes 94 have been shown as forming a part of sensing mechanism S it will be appreciated that they could be omitted if desired.

FIGURE 5 illustrates a modified simplified form of the invention. As shown sensor S1 is the same in construction and operation as sensor S, except that its microswitch 80 is a single-throw, double-pole switch. Sensor S1 is pivotally mounted on bolt 134 supported in frame 2. Fingers 88 and 90 extend downwardly in the manner disclosed in FIGURE 6 and shoes 94 carried by fingers 88 and 90 receive and sense the contoured edges of a band web W passing therebetween.

The mechanism for driving feed rollers 10, 12 and 24, 26, and means for operating cutter 56, shown in FIG- URE 5, are the same as disclosed in FIGURES 1 and 2, and described hereinabove.

In FIGURE 3, shoes 94 are shown operating microswitch 80 when they engage the widest portion of each successive band length of web W. It will be appreciated that shoes 94 also could be so designed as to effect the operation of microswitch 80 when they engage selected narrowest portions such as portions 135 shown in FIG- URE 8.

FIGURE 8 illustrates a suitable diagrammatic wiring diagram for use in the machine shown in FIGURE 5. Power is supplied from lines L and L In operation contact 137 of single-throw, double-pole switch 140 is closed and a circuit is established through normally closed contact 142 of sensor S which holds in clutch section 72C of combined electromagnetic clutch and brake device 72. When the selected point or portion 136 of web W moves between shoes 94, fingers 88 and 90 are spread apart. If the selected control portion is a low section of web W, such as designated 135 in FIGURE 8, then fingrs 88 and 90 would be moved together to actuate switch 80 by means of a spring in switch 80 (not shown). This action causes contact 142 to open and contact 143 to be closed. Thus clutch section 72C is deenergized and the feeding operation of rollers 10, 12 and 24, 26 stops. The closing of contact 143 of sensor S1 operates brake section 72B and insures the substantially immediate cessation of movement of the now registered web. Feeding operations of web W are reinstated by means of cam 144 on shaft 164. When cam follower 146 on lever 148 moves onto low portion 148 on cam 144, power is transferred by the closing of switch contact 139 to complete circuit through clutch section 72C which again couples drive shaft 40 to sprockets 36 and 38 to drive feed rollers 10, 12 and 24, 26. When the widest portion of point 136 of web W moves from between fingers 88, 90 contact 142 is closed and with the closing of contact 138 as cam follower 145 rides on the high portion of cam 144, sensor S1 is again readied to effect the next registration of a band increment of web W.

It will be understood that the registration of each band length of web W occurs a distance from cutter 56 where a band B is cut from the web. However, since the series of connected bandlengths which comprise a web W are identical, the actual points of registration and cut off of bandlengths can be varied within the limits of the machine, and length of bands to be cut.

FIGURE 10 discloses a modified form of sensor S2 adapted to be swingably mounted on bolt 82 on frame 2 of the machine and function generally in the same manner as sensors S and S1. Sensor S2 differs from those shown in FIGURES 5 and 6 in that its web sensing means comprise fingers 188 and 190 and are provided with elongated portions 192 extending downwardly beneath guiding feet 194. As in the case of fingers 88 and 9t), fingers 188 and 190 are respectively fixedly attached to bracket 91, carried by, and pivotally mounted at 92 on microswitch 80.

Referring to FIGURES 11 and 12, as illustrated, fingers 188 and 190 may be circular in cross section such that they will seat into equidistantly longitudinally spaced notches 138 provided in the edges of web W1. Obviously fingers 188 and 190 could have any other desired cross section and notches 138 in web W1 could be shaped to conform therewith. Guiding feet 194 coact with fingers 188 and 198 in the proper feeding of web W1 by rollers 10, 12 and 24, 26 in the same manner as described hereinabove in connection with shoes 94.

In the form illustrated in FIGURES 10-12, when fingers 188, 191) engage notches 138 (see FIGURE 11) clutch section 72C of the drive is uncoupled and brake section 72B is energized to prevent any further rotation of sprockets 36, 38, thereby preventing overfeed of web W1 at cutter 56, which cuts a band B from the leading end of W1. As described hereinabove, the band B1 which is cut will be equal in length to the web length between two longitudinally spaced sets of notches 138 (FIGURE 11). As noted hereinabove, the web length registered can be one or more lengths behind the bandlength which is cut off to form a band B1.

When fingers 188, 198 engage notches 138 band web registration is effected, and feed of web W1 stops. Reinstatement of web feed is accomplished by means of starter cam 196 carried by rod 198 slidably mounted in a bearing 200 on frame 2. The free end of rod 198 carries a pin 202 engaging a slot 204 in an arm of bellcrank lever 206 pivotally mounted on short shaft 208 supported in frame 2. Cam 210 on shaft 64 of the machine is provided with a high portion 212 such that when shaft 64 rotates, cam 210 and cam portion 212 engages follower 214 on lever 206, rod 198 is raised and starter cam 196 is moved between elongated portions 192 of fingers 188 and 190 to force them apart against the pressure of spring means in microswitch (not shown). This operation effects the reinstatement of feed of web W, by feeding rollers 10, 12 and 24, 26.

FIGURE 13 illustrates diagrammatically a suitable wiring diagram for use with sensor S2. In this case microswitch 80 is a single throw, double pole switch. As shown, clutch section 72C is energized and web W1 is being fed (see FIGURE 12) by rollers 10, 12 and 24, 26. When, however, fingers 188, move into notches 138 in the course of movement of web W1, switch 80 is actuated, contact 216 is opened, clutch section 720 is deenergized and contact 218 is closed, which energizes brake section 72B. This operation stops the feeding rollers and prevents them from overfeeding the now registered web W1. The leading band length is then cut, as described in detail hereinabove.

In the above description, cams 132, 144 and 210 have been described as mounted on shaft 64. It will be understood that each cam can be substituted, as desired, in the same machine, in order to use effectively the type of registering unit and/or one of the sensors, S, S1 and S2. The drive of the web feeding mechanism is the same at all times.

The structure disclosed herein is adapted particularly for properly feeding, registering and cutting relatively narrow cigar bands. This type of band is relatively narrow and therefore it is important that complete control be exercised over the webs from which each individual band is cut. The mechanism embodying the invention 9 is particularly adapted for achieving this result in a markedly successful way.

As shown in FIGURE 1, sensor S is mounted on bolt 82 threadably supported in block 84. This arrangement makes it possible to adjust sensor S to or from registering mechanism P in order to position sensing fingers 88, 90 and their guiding shoes 94 properly relative to registering mechanism P and thereby meet all operating requirements necessary to the proper registering of band lengths of web W. Sensors S1 and S2 are similarly adjustably mounted.

What is claimed is:

1. A web feeding and registering apparatus for successively registering predetermined lengths of an endles web wherein each length has a repeated series of contours of varying lateral edge dimensions along its'length, comprising means for feeding said web, a sensing device, comprising a pair of opposed relatively moving guide means adapted to engage the lateral edges of said web, said guide means being pivotably mounted for free swinging movement substantialy at right angles to the path of movement of said web to sense variations in lateral extent of the repeated contour of said web, means operative by said sensing device when said device engages a predetermined lateral contour dimension of said web for incapacitating said feed means and stopping the advancing movement of said web, thereby effecting the desired registration of a predetermined portion of said web, and means for cutting a registered length of said web from the leading end thereof.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said sensing device includes switch means, a magnetic clutch associated with said web feeding means and wherein said switch is closed by said guide means of said device to deenergize said clutch and thereby effect the incapacitation of said web feeding means.

3. The invention defined in claim 2, including a normally inoperative stop mechanism for said web feed means, and means operative substantially simultaneously with the deenergization of said clutch to actuate said stop mechanism and positively prevent misregistration of said web.

4. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said sensing device includes a switch and two opposed pivotally mounted guide arms for operating said switch, each of said guide arms being provided with a guide shoe to engage one edge of said web, said arms being operative in response to the movement of selected contour edge dimension of said web to operate said switch, a mag netic clutch normally operative to drive said web feeding means, and said arms being operative in response to the movement of a preselected contoured portion of said web between said shoes for operating said switch to deenergize said magnetic clutch and stop the feeding operation of said web, and cam means for resetting said arms to reenergize said magnetic clutch and reinstate the operation of said web feeding means.

5. In a device of the type described, a web cutting mechanism, web feeding mechanism for feeding an endless web to said cutting mechanism, said web consisting of an endless series of connected band lengths, each band length having the same contoured edges, a web sensing device having sensing means engaging at least one of the edges of said web, a web registering mechanism positioned to scan and register successive band lengths of said web as said web is fed from a source of supply to said cutting mechanism, means actuated by said sensing means in response to the movement of a preselected portion of a contoured band length of said web into engagement with said sensing means for conditioning said registering device for operation, means openative in response to a predetermined portion of said band length being scanned by said conditioned registering means for effecting the registration of said length and the incapacitation of said web feeding mechanism,

1G and means for cutting the leading end band length from said web.

6. In a device of the type described, a web cutting mechanism, web feeding mechanism for feeding an end less web to said cutting mechanism, said web consisting of an endless series of connected similar band lengths, each length having the same contoured edges and indicia bearing areas, a web sensing device having sensing means engaging at least one of the edges of said band, a photoelectric web registering mechanism positioned in the path of travel of said web to scan and register successive band lengths of said web as said web is fed from a source of supply to said cutting mechanism, means operated by said sensing means in response to the movement of a preselected portion of a contoured band length of said web into engagement with said sensing means and the positioning of a pre-selected indicia bearing area in the operative range of said registering mechanism for conditioning said registering device for operation, means operative in response to said pre-selected indicia bearing area of said band length being scanned by said conditioned registering means for effecting the registration of said band length and the incapacitation of said web feeding mechanism, and means for operating said cutting mechanism to cut a registered band length from said band.

7. A web feeding and registering device for registering successive predetermined lengths of an endless relatively narrow Web, wherein each web length is provided with successively longitudinally varying lateral dimensions, comprising a cutter, web feeding means, we=b sensing and registering mechanism for registering lengths of said web fed by said Web feeding means to said cutter, said mechanism including an electric circuit, a switch, electromagnetic clutch means, and electromagnetic brake means connected in said circuit, said mechanism also including a pair of spaced relatively movable sensing fingers engaging opposite sides of said web, means normally energizing said clutch means to drive said web feeding means and thereby move said web between said fingers, means actuated by a predetermined movement of said fingers relative to a selected web registering contour arrangement on the edges of said web corresponding to a selected Web length of said web to be registered for actuating said switch to substantially simultaneously deenergize said clutch means and energize said brake means to stop and brake said web feeding means against any further feed of said web until a registered length of said web is cut therefrom, means for operating said cutter to out said registered length from the leading end of said web, and means for reinstating the operation of said web feeding means, wherein each said web length also carries control indicia having a definite operative relationship with each selected contour arrangement and said registering mechanism includes a photo-electric cell registering unit, means normally maintaining said unit inoperative, and means operative in response to the sensing of each said selected contour arrangement of said web and the scanning by said unit of said indicia for conditioning said unit for operation when said indicia moves out of the range of action of said unit to incapacitate said web feeding means and energize said electro-magnetic brake means to register said web and prevent further feed of said registered web length.

'8. A web feeding and registering apparatus for successively registering predetermined length of a continuous Web consisting of a connected series of similar equal lengths,-each length having a repeated series of one or more varying lateral edge dimensions, a cutter for cutting a registered length of said web, means for feeding web lengths to said cutter, driving means for said web feeding mechanism, a register-ing mechanism operative to register each successive web length, said mechanism comprising a sensing device for sensing changes in the lateral extent of at least one edge of said web as said web moves therepast, means operative when a predetermined section of a web length is sensed for effecting the controlled substantially immediate incapacitation of said operating means of said web feeding mechanism, and preventing further feed of said web, means for operating said cutter to cut a registered Web length from the leading end of said web, and means for again reestablishing the operation of said driving means of said Web feeding mechanism comprising, a cam, a shaft mounting said cam, means for driving said shaft, and means operated by said cam for resetting said registering mechanism.

9. The invention defined in claim 8 wherein said sensing device includes a plurality of relatively separable opposed fingers, means mounting said device to position said fingers to engage opposite sides of said web and wherein the controlled stoppage of said web feeding means and the substantially immediate simultaneous registration of each web length occurs in response to the relative movement of said fingers to a predetermined spaced relationship relative to the web positioned therebetween.

10. The invention defined in claim 9 wherein said regis-- tering mechanism also comprises a photo-electric registering unit, means normally maintaining said unit inoperative, means operative in response to the relative movement of said fingers to said spaced relationship .to condition said unit for operation, and means operated by said conditioned unit when a selected portion of a web length is scanned thereby for effecting said controlled substantially immediate controlled stoppage of said web feeding operating means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1915 Rohland 83367 8/1953 Dalton 22637 X' 

1. A WEB FEEDING AND REGISTERING APPARATUS FOR SUCCESSIVELY REGISTERING PREDETERMINED LENGTHS OF AN ENDLES WEB WHEREIN EACH LENGTH HAS A REPEATED SERIES OF CONTOURS OF VARYING LATERIAL EDGES DIMENSIONS ALONG ITS LENGTH, COMPRISING MEANS FOR FEEDING SAID WEB, A SENSING DEVICE, COMPRISING A PAIR OF OPPOSED RELATIVELY MOVING GUIDE MEANS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE LATERAL EDGES OF SAID WEB, SAID GUIDE MEANS BEING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED FOR FREE SWINGING MOVEMENT SUBSTANTIALY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID WEB TO SENSE VARIATIONS IN LATERAL EXTENT OF THE REPEATED CONTOUR OF SAID WEB, MEANS OPERATIVE BY SAID SENSING DEVICE WHEN SAID DEVICE ENGAGES A PREDETERMINED LATERAL CONTOUR DIMENSION OF SAID WEB FOR INCAPACITATING SAID FEED MEANS AND STOPPING THE ADVANCING MOVEMENT OF SAID WEB, THEREBY EFFECTING THE SEDIRED REGISTRATION OF A PREDETERMINED PORTION OF SAID WEB, AND MEANS FOR CUTTING A REGISTERED LENGTH OF SAID WEB FROM THE LEADING END THEREOF. 